A Public health assessment of the north st. paul living streets plan
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Transcript of A Public health assessment of the north st. paul living streets plan
A PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF THE NORTH ST. PAUL LIVING STREETS PLAN
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTASCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCESIN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PROJECT
ELIZABETH NARTEN TEEGAN WYDRA EMILY YANG
THE CITY OF NORTH ST. PAUL
Located in eastern Ramsey County
20 year Capital Improvement Plan to upgrade major infrastructure Living Streets Plan
VISION OF LIVING STREETS PLAN
Directly responds to concerns Stormwater runoff Modes of transportation Active living
Living Streets and Public Health
URBAN COMMUNITIESProjected to rise from 46.6% to 69.6% between
2000 and 2050Concerns
Increased percentage of stormwater runoff
Dependence on motor vehicles Physical inactivity and
sedentary lifestyles
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
Goal of Public Health Assessment Manage Stormwater Enhance Urban Green Space Accommodate Pedestrian Movement Promote Active Living
REDUCING STORMWATER
Rain gardens/bioretention areas
Increasing green space Increasing pervious
surfacesReducing imperviousness
TION DESIGN
Bioretention Design Mimics natural
retention areas that existed before development.
EFFECTS OF POLLUTANTS
Oxygen DepletionEutrophicationSpecies StressToxicity
Algal Blooms Impact Recreational
UseLowered Aesthetic
Value
STUDIES ON POLLUTION REMOVAL
Metal removal: 90% of lead 80% of copper 50-70% of zinc
Organic nitrogen, ammonia, ammonium reduction: 38-57% in upper ports 68-75% in middle and
lower ports
FINDINGS FROM USGS STUDY:
Size and design of rain gardens importantSoil properties a contributing factorOther important factors:
drainage area frequency and duration of storm events capacity of rain garden vegetation types materials in construction of base
FINDINGS FROM USGS STUDY (CONT) :
Suspended solids including nutrients were lowerReduction of chlorineReduction of nitrite and nitrateHigh variability between gardensRecommended further studies
INCREASED WATER TEMPERATURES EFFECT
Biological productivityStream metabolismContaminant toxicityAquatic biodiversity
BENEFITS OF RAIN GARDENS
Lower stormwater loadsNatural pollution removalLower maintenance than equal area of turf grassMore cost-effective when compared to a system of curbs
and gutters Increased biodiversityAesthetic beauty
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Maintenance requiredOff-season aestheticsVegetation mattersPlant competition with weeds
SUCCESSFUL RAIN GARDEN PROGRAMS - BLOOMINGTON
Project created to address impaired Minnesota River Partially funded by Clean Water Land and
Legacy Amendment Curb-cut rain gardens and pervious
pavement Voluntary participation, ~50 gardens
planted since 2009 Captured annually:
1.5 tons sediment, 15 pounds phosphorus, 18 ac-ft stormwater volume
SUCCESSFUL RAIN GARDEN PROGRAMS - MAPLEWOOD
Program in place since 1996 Supported by Environmental
Utility Fund fee Over 700 home and 60 city rain
gardens have been installed in conjunction with street reconstruction
Voluntary participation with incentives
Maintenance not an issue City inspections ~95% compliance
URBAN GREEN SPACE Living Streets Plan Objective:
Enhance the Urban Forest Urban parks, street trees, landscaped
boulevards, public gardens, wetlands, etc.
green space = health Benefits to health:
Environmental Physical Mental
BENEFITS OF STREET TREES
Environmental HealthLower air temperatureReduce stormwaterPrevent erosionMove water to groundwater
tableFilter the air we breathe
Community-WideAbsorb traffic noise Increase privacyEnhance safetyReduce crime Increase property value Increase revenue at
shops
Value of mature tree =
$1000 - $10,000Increase in property valueReduction in heating/cooling
costs Presence of trees cuts crime by 7%
1 acre of forest6 tons of CO24 tons of O218 people 60 – 200 million
spaces available to plant trees
along U.S. streets
NEIGHBORHOOD GREENNESS Inspires physical activity
People want to get out and enjoy nature Walking distances judged to be less on streets with trees, more trips on foot (Tilt et al.,
2006)Makes you feel better about your health
People living in greener environments have better self-perceived health (Maas et al., 2006)
Improves mental health Restorative, relaxing, heightens focus Moving to greener areas shows sustained mental health improvements (Alcock et al.,
2013)
URBAN FORESTRY CHALLENGES
Relationship between health and natural green space is complex “Just because you build it, doesn’t mean they will come” Community outreach and education initiatives
Management and maintenance issues Invasive species Pollution
NORTH ST. PAUL – A GREENSTEP CITY
Joined in 2012 Voluntary, free, continuous
improvement program Complete action items from a list of
28 sustainability and quality-of-life “best practices” Many directly relate to objectives of
Living Streets Plan
PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENTBicycling and walking
account for: 11.4% of trips 14.9% of roadway
fatalities 2.1% of federal funding
27% of pedestrians are under 16 years of age or over 65
MINNESOTA PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT
40% do not drive Children, elderly, and individuals
with a disability16% increase in walking Pedestrian movement
campaigns
PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES : SIDEWALKS
Proven safeguardConnects the
communityUse of green space and
landscapeSafe Routes to School
PERVIOUS CONCRETE
Reduce impervious surfaces
Drawbacks of pervious concrete Test pilot projects
Cost
ACTIVE TRAVEL TO SCHOOL
Decline in rate of children walking and bicycling to school 1977 – 48% 2007 – 16%
2011 survey revealed lack of sidewalks as a barrierBuilt environment influence on physical activity
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL (SRTS)
Walking remains risky mode of travel
Initiative began in Denmark
National initiatives to increase Safe Routes to School
SRTS INITIATIVESFunding for SRTS in 1998
Marin County, CA2005 Federal Bill
Allocated funds to states for SRTSHealth People 2020
Increase proportion of trips made to school by walking
MINNESOTA SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
101 communities participating since 2006
Funds infrastructure and non-infrastructure improvement projects
Work in partnership with State agencies
THE ACTIVE LIVING MOVEMENT
Create and promote environments that make it safe, accessible, and efficient for everyone to integrate physical activity into their daily lives
Opportunity for North St. Paul = infrastructure improvements + health promotion
Why this movement is so important to public health: Rise in sedentary lifestyles Decrease in physical activity
ACTIVE LIVING RESEARCHPhysical activity offers numerous health benefits to people of
all agesResearch shows Active Living:
Improves physical and mental health Decreases risk of chronic disease and associated medical costs Reduces transportation costs Improves air quality Builds stronger, safer communities Improves quality of life
10 THINGS YOUR CITY CAN DO TO PROMOTE ACTIVE LIVING1. Join Let’s Move Cities and Towns, a campaign to engage municipal leaders to help end childhood obesity.2. Adopt a Complete Streets policy, ensuring access and connectivity to multimodal transportation for all users.3. Convert vacant or paved lots into playgrounds, parks or community gardens.4. Form partnerships with local schools to develop Safe Routes to School programs and/or joint-use agreements for community access to recreational facilities.5. Conduct an inventory of parks, open space, vacant land, sidewalks and recreational facilities; engage residents and area stakeholders to identify needs and opportunities to create, expand or enhance these areas.6. Create a welcoming, safe, and attractive environment — beautify streets, parks, and trails by ensuring adequate tree canopy, lighting, attractive landscaping, art, benches and safety features.7. Implement appropriate and attractive traffic-calming design features.8. Create policy to evaluate the health impacts of all new development.9. Support community programming such as festivals, charity walks/runs and entertainment in parks.10. Develop public education campaigns to encourage active living.
METRO AREA LIVING STREETS POLICIES
Edina, Minnesota – policy adopted in 2013Maplewood, Minnesota – policy adopted in 2013Minnesota Complete Streets Cities
Many shared objectives with North St. Paul Living Streets Plan 2010 statewide legislation 25 participating cities
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
Public health benefits Initiatives and Community Engagement
Strengthen citizen supportCity of North St. Paul as an Urban Ecosystem
FURTHER WORK AND STUDIES Cost and benefit analysis of pervious surfaces for roads, sidewalks,
and parking lots Road salt application without overuse and possible alternatives Use of high phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers The long term effectiveness of rain garden soil treatments. Studies on mature rain gardens. Impacts of active transportation on energy consumption Addition or enhancement of marked pedestrian crosswalks Long-term sustainability of a newly developed urban forest
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
Tool for City staffAddresses specific concerns
Rain gardens Sidewalks Active living
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Elizabeth Wattenberg Ph.D. – Project Advisor, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Matt Simcik Ph.D. – Project Advisor, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Petrona Lee Ph.D. – Project Advisor, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Mike Greco – Resilient Communities Project, Program Manager Cliff Aichinger – Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, Administrator Sage Passi – Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, Watershed Education Specialist Shelly Pederson – City of Bloomington, City Engineer Steven Segar – City of Bloomington, Civil Engineer Bryan Gruidl – City of Bloomington, Senior Water Resources Manager Mark Nolan – City of Edina, Transportation Planner Ross Bintner – City of Edina, Environmental Engineer Michael Thompson – City of Maplewood, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Steve Love – City of Maplewood, Assistant City Engineer